Of Compassion and Remembering

Susanne Norgard, Executive Director, writes in the Ukiah Daily Journal about people and organizations improving lives in our community.

Workers Memorial Day is not a well known holiday to many, but it is an important day for local people who have lost friends and loved ones in job related accidents. That is why, at the memorial observance a few years ago, some of the people involved decided to start a philanthropic fund at the Community Foundation. The Workers Memorial Fund provides small amounts of money to the next of kin of workers who are killed on the job to help with the family’s immediate expenses.

But money is only a part of what the Workers Memorial Fund provides. One of the Workers Memorial volunteers, Jean Davis, told me “To be a part of something so compassionate, and to be able to provide to families a monetary gift when they need it the most, is such a gratifying feeling. It is a way of reaching out to say we care.”

Susanne Norgard, Executive Director, writes in the Ukiah Daily Journal about people and organizations improving lives in our community.

Workers Memorial Day is not a well known holiday to many, but it is an important day for local people who have lost friends and loved ones in job related accidents. That is why, at the memorial observance a few years ago, some of the people involved decided to start a philanthropic fund at the Community Foundation. The Workers Memorial Fund provides small amounts of money to the next of kin of workers who are killed on the job to help with the family’s immediate expenses.

But money is only a part of what the Workers Memorial Fund provides. One of the Workers Memorial volunteers, Jean Davis, told me “To be a part of something so compassionate, and to be able to provide to families a monetary gift when they need it the most, is such a gratifying feeling. It is a way of reaching out to say we care.”

Terry Poplawski organized the first Workers Memorial Day in Ukiah. Terry is a union representative whose concern is to raise consciousness about safety in the work place. However, he was inspired to begin the observance of the day as a result of his association with a co-worker who lost her husband in a construction accident. “I knew about Workers Memorial ceremonies but they didn’t really resonate with me,” he told me. “Then my co-worker’s husband was killed and I understood what it is all about.”

The Workers Memorial Day observance is planned by a committee that includes Shari McAsey, Jean Davis, Carrie Brigham and Toni Martin. They put a lot of thought and effort into how to honor the legacy of workers. They created a logo with a photograph of the calloused yet calm hands of a worker that was taken by photographer Nancy Schaeffer, who specializes in photographing hands. They also have developed displays, poems, and scrap books to memorialize the lives of the men and women who have died. The ceremony includes candle lighting and other rituals that are a part of the tribute. As Terry puts it, “It’s a work in progress. It builds each year. More people are getting involved. It has become an avenue to people to express their caring.”

The public is invited and encouraged to join in this ceremony of honor and remembrance. You can learn about lives that were suddenly cut short and share in the community’s compassion and understanding. Workers’ Memorial Day will be observed on Monday, April 28, at 5:30 p.m. in AlexThomasPlaza. Food will be served.

The Community Foundation establishes philanthropic funds for people who want to give back in ways that matter to them. The Workers Memorial Fund receives contributions from individuals, unions, and businesses in the community who want to show their sense of compassion and caring. If you would like to find out more, visit our website www.communityfound.org.